Cabinet assembly



Filed July 18, 1966 l of 5 Sheet INVEA/TO/Q EA/PL L. WALLS Feb. 4, 1969 a. L. WALLS ,76 CABINET ASSEMBLY Filed July 18. 1966 1 Sheet 2 of :3

,4 FOR/W573 Sheet 5 M5 Filed July 18, 1966 United States Patent 3,425,762 CABINET ASSEMBLY Earl L. Walls, La Jolla, Calif., assignor to Wyle Laboratories, El Segundo, Calif, a corporation of California Filed July 18, 1966, Ser. No. 566,152 US. Cl. 312-111 Claims Int. Cl. A47b 91/06 This invention relates to furniture construction, and more particularly to the type commonly used in laboratories.

The economical manufacture of desks, cabinets, and the like generally necessitates the use of a limited number of designs. In some situations, however, each user of these articles of furniture requires a unique combination and placement of the drawers and other components of the equipment. For example, the cabinet assemblies used in laboratories, often referred to as laboratory or hospital casework, which typically include drawers, sinks, and outlets for gas, water, compressed air, and electricity are often tailored to the particular laboratory in which they are used. Means for readily assembling a variety of cabinet components into sturdy cabinets of any design within a wide range would be desirable.

The ease of maintenance of laboratory furniture is an important measure of its utility. Thus, furniture designs which allow facile disassembly to the extent necessary for cleaning access, and which enable construction of easily cleaned materials are highly desirable.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide furniture or cabinet assemblies which can be readily assembled into any of a variety of configurations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a furniture construction which enables its assembly with ease into a structure capable of standing up under heavy usage.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide laboratory desk constructions which are simple to clean and maintain.

Yet another object is to provide laboratory furniture components of high strength, light weight, and good appearance.

The foregoing and other objects are realized by a cabinet assembly including at least one pair of legs, and a two piece stringer extending between them, the stringer having vertical and horizontal faces for supporting cabinet components and a lip for enabling the cabinet components to grasp the stringer and lock into place. The back walls of the cabinet components carry support ledges which rest on the horizontal faces of the stringers to vertically support the components. The back walls also carry grasping fingers for grasping the lips of the stringers to hold the components firmly in place.

The installation of a cabinet component is accomplished by holding it with its back wall against the stringer, and with the support ledge resting on the horizontal face of the finger. The grasping fingers are then manipulated to grasp the lip. The grasping fingers are engaged by a rod which projects through the back wall of the cabinet component, and manipulation of the grasping fingers is performed by turning the rod. In one embodiment of the invention, the grasping finger has threads engaged with threads on the outer end of the rod. When the rod turns, the grasping finger rotates to a position behind the lip to begin to grasp it. At this position, the finger hits a limit tab on the back wall, and further turning of the rod does not cause the finger to rotate further, but causes it to advance on the threads and clamp tightly onto the lip. In another embodiment, the grasping finger is hinged to the back wall of the cabinet component to prevent turning, but is threadably engaged with the rod. By turning the rod, the grasping finger is moved against the back of the lip to hold the cabinet component in place.

The cabinet components are of double-wall sheet metal construction to provide both rigidity and lightness. A rigid construction requires the inclusion of spacers to tie the inner and outer walls together at many points. This is accomplished by forming numerous depressions or dimples in the inner wall, the bottom of each dimple being in contact with the outer wall. Inasmuch as the walls are of sheet metal construction, forces from the inner wall should be distributed over a wide area to prevent puncturing or deforming of the outer wall. Accordingly, the bottom of the dimples which are in contact with the outer wall have radii greater than the separation of the inner and outer walls.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an assembled cabinet constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective, partial view, of a leg and stringer assembly of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a pictorial view of the invention during attachment of a cabinet component thereto;

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view of an embodiment of the invention showing a mechanism for attaching a cabinet component to a stringer assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of the invention showing another mechanism for attaching a cabinet component to a stringer assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a front view of a grasping finger of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view of a cabinet commoment with a drawer assembly installed therein.

The cabinet assembly 10 shown in FIGURE 1 is typical of the furniture used in life and physical science laboratories. The assembly comprises a variety of cabinet components, including a set of narrow drawers 12, a set of wide drawers 14, a group of electrical outlets 16, a sink 18, and a sink with water faucet 20, all supported by legs 22, the components can be assembled in a variety of configurations, to meet the requirements of a laboratory, and the assembly can be altered and the components changed to meet new requirements.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the legs and stringer assembly of the invention. Each leg 22 comprises an inner post 24 and a shroud 26 disposed about the post. A lower channel beam 34 extends between the legs to tie them together. The post has a front face 28 containing numerous pairs of holes 30 spaced vertically from. each other, and the shroud 26 contains one pair of corresponding holes. Two bolts 32 project through the two holes of the shroud 26, a pair of holes formed in the channel member 34-, and one of the numerous pairs of holes of the post 24 to hold the shroud, post and channel member together. The shroud may be repositioned up or down relative to the post 24 to raise or lower the height of the lower channel 34 above the ground.

A lower cross member 36 lying on top of the lower channel 34 includes a ledge or horizontal face 35 for vertically supporting cabinet components, and includes a lip portion 38 which depends downwardly therefrom for enabling the cabinet components to be held tightly against the cross member. Fastening bolts 39 join the cross member 36 t0 the shroud 26. The lower channel 34 and cross member 36 provide a lower stringer assembly 42 for supporting cabinet components between the legs 22. The lower channel 34 and cross member 36 provide a lower stringer assembly 42 for supporting cabinet components between the legs 22. The lower channel 34 and cross member 36 are generally welded together before delivery to the laboratory or other place of use of the cabinet assembly 10.

An upper stringer assembly 44 comprising an upper channel 46 and upper cross member 48 with a horizontal face 43 and lip 45 are attached to the upper portion of the shrouds 26, and serve in a manner similar to that of the lower stringer assembly.

Many of the cabinet components are case or box-like structures for holding drawers. FIGURE 3 shows a typical method of installing such components. The cabinet component 50 has a rearward portion which includes a back wall 52 on which is mounted apparatus for attaching the cabinet component to the stringer assemblies 42 and 44. The cabinet component in the figure is shown mounted on a cart 54. Installation is accomplished by wheeling the cart so that the back wall 52 of the component is pressed against the stringer assemblies, and then turning grasping fingers 56 to firmly engage the lips of the cross members, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

FIGURE 4 shows one form of apparatus for fastening cabinet components to the stringer assemblies 42 and 44 of FIGURE 2. In this embodiment of the invention, the cabinet component '58 includes a top wall 60' of doublewall construction and a back wall 62 of single-sheet construction, the back wall having inner and outer faces 63 and 65, respectively. The cabinet component 58 is positioned with its back wall adjacent to the stringer assemblies 42 and 44. An upper angle member 64 extends horizontally across the back wall near the top thereof. A

threaded rod 66 projects through the back wall 62 and the upper angle member 64. An outer end 68 of the rod is threadably engaged with a grasping finger 70, the finger being adapted to extend behind the lip 45 of the cross member 48 and hold the cabinet component firmly against the upper stringer assembly. The rod 66 serves as a means for manipulating the finger into position.

The fiinger 70 is generally in a horizontal position when the cabinet component is moved against the stringer assemblies. When the rod 66 is turned clockwise, the finger moves to the vertical position shown in FIGURE 4, until it hits a limit tab 71. The threads on the finger 70 are cut to a shallow depth so that they do not fit loosely on the rod. Further turning of the rod 66 advances the finger and causes it to firmly grasp the lip 45.

A lower angle member 72 extends across the back wall 62 near the bottom thereof. The angle member 72 includes an overhang portion 74 which is adapted to rest on the upper surface 35 of the lower cross member 36 and serves as a support means to hold up the cabinet component. The outer end 76 of the overhang portion is bent upwardy to facilitate movement of the overhang portion 74 on top of the cross member. A rod 78 projecting through the back wall and lower angle member 72 and a grapsing finger 80 threadably engaged with the outer end of the rod serve to grasp the lip 38 of the lower cross member, and they function in a manner similar to the rod 66 and finger 70 located near the top of the back wall.

Each of the rods 66 and 78 has an inner end 82 and 84, respectively, formed as a socket. This enables the turning of the rods by use of a long socket wrench. which en ables a mechanic assemblying the cabinet assembly to turn the rods from a position near the front of the cabinet component. It may be noted that the front of the cabinet components are generally open during attachment to the stringers, and drawer trays or the like may be removed to facilitate access to the rods. Z-shaped members 86 welded to the upper and lower angle members 64 and 72, respectively, help to support the extreme outer end of the 4 rods 66 and 78. Lock nuts 88 threaded onto the outer ends of the rods 66 and 68 hold the rods in place.

The cabinet component can be vertically supported solely by the overhang portion 74 of the lower angle member 72. The cabinet component is tied to the stringer assemblies at three points by means of the two grasping fingers 70 and associated mechanisms, which are located at the top of the back wall near either side thereof, and by one grasping finger located near the bottom of the back wall, as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Another form of apparatus for fastening cabinet components to the stringer assemblies is shown in FIGURE 5. In this embodiment, the back wall 90 contacts the lip 45 of the upper cross member. A grasping finger 92, shown in front elevation view in FIGURE 5, is provided which is hinged at 94 to the back wall. The finger includes a threaded hole 96 which is threadably engaged with a rod 98. Prior to installation, the finger is pivoted to a position away from the vertical so it can move under the lip 45 of the cross member. After the back wall is moved against the stringer assembly, the rod 98 is turned until the finger 92 presses tightly against the lip 45. The rod 98 includes an inner socket head 100, to facilitate its rotation. A front view of the finger 92 is shown in FIGURE 6.

The cabinet component is supported in an upward direction by a short angle member 102 which projects through the back wall. The arrangement of FIGURE 5 is generally more suitable for cabinet components of light weight, such as components which only provide electrical outlets as at 16 in FIGURE 1.

Inasmuch as the cabinet components are designed for ready installation and removal, it is especially important that they be of light weight and sturdy construction. In the present invention, this is accomplished by including double-walled sheet metal construction, wherein the inner and outer walls are separated by depressions or dimples formed in the inner walls. The arrangement and general appearance of the dimples 104 is shown in FIGURE 3. A sectional, detailed view of a dimple is shown at 106 in FIGURE 4.

The dimples 106 serve as spacers to separate the inner wall 108 and outer wall 110 of the cabinet components. The dimples additionally strengthen the inner wall in somewhat the same manner as corrugations stiffen a sheet of material. Inasmuch as the inner and outer walls are constructed of thin sheet material, and much of the forces on the inner wall are transmitted through the dimples, it is desirable to provide dimples of large area. Round dimples having a radius R of their bottom portion 112 which is greater than the separation S of the two walls have been found satisfactory.

One of the most common types of of cabinet component installations is a drawer assembly, one embodiment of which is illustrated in FIGURE 7. The assembly comprises a ball suspension assembly attached on either side of the cabinet component 122 (only one assembly being shown). Rivets 124 project through a bracket 126, an inner liner 128, and the inner wall of the cabinet component. The liner 128 is generally provided to deaden the noises of operation of the drawers. Runners 132 and 134 support a drawer enclosure 136, and enable it to be easily pulled in and out. The drawer enclosure 136 forms a rectangular aperture for holding a drawer tray 138 constructed of plastic. The tray contains several bosses 140 attached near the top of each of its four sides, the bosses resting on the top of the drawer enclosure 136 to support the drawer tray.

The drawer tray 138 is easily installed and removed from the cabinet component by merely laying it in place or lifting it out (when the drawer enclosure 136 is pulled out). Thus, the tray can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement. Additionally, a plastic material such as polyethylene can be used as the material of the tray to reduce costs and increase cleanability and durableness. The low strength of such plastics does not limit their use because they do not have to be attached by bolts or the like to While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, various modifications and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the particular embodiments shown, but only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cabinet assembly comprising:

at least two legs for placement a predetermined distance apart to support cabinet components;

stringer means for extending in a generally horizontal direction between, and for fastening to said legs, said stringer means having a ledge face lying in a generally horizontal plane and a lip portion extending in a generally vertical direction;

a cabinet component having a rearward portion for attachment to said stringer means;

support means attached to the rearward portion of said cabinet component, said support means including a projection having a horizontal face for resting on said ledge face to vertically support said cabinet component on said stringer means;

finger means attached to the rearward portion of said cabinet component for grasping said lip portion of said stringer means to hold said cabinet component and said stringer means together; and

finger manipulating means for moving said finger means into engagement with said lip portion.

2. A cabinet assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said finger manipulating means comprises a member which projects through said rearward portion of said cabinet component and is rotatably mounted thereon, said member having an outer end portion threadably engaged with said finger means and an inner end portion, whereby said finger means can be moved into firm engagement with said lip portion by turning said inner end portion.

3. A cabinet assembly as defined in claim 1 including:

rotation limiting means mounted on said cabinet component for limiting rotation of said finger means from a position of adjacency to said lip portion; and wherein said finger manipulating means comprises a rod projecting through and rotatably mounted on said rearward portion of said cabinet component and having an outer rod portion threadably engaged with said finger means.

4. A cabinet assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said rearward portion of said cabinet includes a back wall having an inner and outer face, and said finger means includes a first portion with a threaded hole and a second portion pivotally mounted on said back wall for moving said first portion toward and away from said back wall; and

said finger manipulating member comprises a threaded rod projecting through said back wall, having a first end portion formed as a socket head, lying on the inner side of said back wall, and having a second end portion threadably engaged with said threaded hole of said finger means.

5. A cabinet assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said stringer means includes a channel shaped beam with the bottom of the channel positioned vertically, for carrying the weight of cabinet components and the sides of the channel facing away from the leg portions to which they are attached, and which includes a cross member having a plate like' top portion resting on and overhanging one side of said channel and having a lip portion depending downwardly from said side of said channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,438 12/1964 Carlson et al 312-111 3,305,286 2/1967 Fenwick 312140 JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. KOHNEN, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

1. A CABINET ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: AT LEAST TWO LEGS FOR PLACEMENT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE APART TO SUPPORT CABINET COMPONENTS; STRINGER MEANS FOR EXTENDING IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION BETWEEN, AND FOR FASTENING TO SAID LEGS, SAID STRINGER MEANS HAVING A LEDGE FACE LYING IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE AND A LIP PORTION EXTENDING IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL DIRECTION; A CABINET COMPONENT HAVING A REARWARD PORTION FOR ATTACHMENT TO SAID STRINGER MEANS; SUPPORT MEANS ATTACHED TO THE REARWARD PORTION OF SAID CABINET COMPONENT, SAID SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A PROJECTION HAVING A HORIZONTAL FACE FOR RESTING ON SAID LEDGE FACE TO VERTICALLY SUPPORT SAID CABINET COMPONENT ON SAID STRINGER MEANS; FINGER MEANS ATTACHED TO THE REARWARD PORTION OF SAID CABINET COMPONENT FOR GRASPING SAID LIP PORTION OF SAID STRINGER MEANS TO HOLD SAID CABINET COMPONENT AND SAID STRINGER MEANS TOGETHER; AND FINGER MANIPULATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FINGER MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LIP PORTION. 